Lizzo Lawsuit Claims Don’t Justify Fatphobic Comments

In a culture where a few individuals are placed at the top of the totem pole, celebrity and activism is so regularly conflated, it’s almost inevitable we’ll be disappointed if they fail. Culturally, we may be coming to the realisation that there are serious limitations when it comes to individualistic interpretations of liberation. As Nyome told Unbothered, she was unsurprised by the allegations because “I don’t really put anyone on a pedestal and know that people are human. I was disappointed, yes, but not surprised.” One of the dancers stated that she now feels Lizzo’s activism is “performative” due to the disconnect between how she was using her platform and her alleged treatment of her dancers in private. The horrendous fatphobia and racism Lizzo has faced during her career shouldn’t be downplayed, but there are also real financial incentives to successfully curating a personal brand that chimes with progressive values. Lizzo’s music came to the forefront as body positivity, self love, and wellbeing movements were gaining momentum, and she was able to capitalise (whether consciously or not) by making these self empowerment style values the centre of her art.